Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the respondents (n, %).
| Variables | Groups | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Gender | Male | 112 (37.2) | 111 (41.0) | 112 (37.3) |
| Female | 189 (62.8) | 160 (59.0) | 188 (62.7) | |
| Age (yrs.) | 15–29 | 80 (26.6) | 64 (23.6) | 93 (31.0) |
| 30–59 | 149 (49.5) | 118 (43.5) | 125 (41.7) | |
| 60 and above | 72 (23.9) | 89 (32.8) | 82 (27.3) | |
| Marital status | Unmarried | 49 (16.3) | 44 (16.1) | 73 (24.3) |
| Married | 246 (81.7) | 218 (79.6) | 207 (69.0) | |
| Others | 6 (2.0) | 9 (3.3) | 20 (6.7) | |
| Education background | Illiteracy | 18(6.0) | 14(5.1) | 16(5.3) |
| Primary and junior high school | 82 (27.2) | 102(37.2) | 111 (37.0) | |
| Senior high school | 104 (34.6) | 85 (31.0) | 97(32.3) | |
| College or above | 97 (32.2) | 70 (25.7) | 76 (25.3) | |
| Employment status | Employed | 166 (55.1) | 139 (51.3) | 153 (51.0) |
| Unemployed | 135 (44.9) | 132 (48.7) | 147 (49.0) | |
| Monthly income (RMB) | 0–1999 | 234 (77.7) | 235 (86.7) | 223 (74.3) |
| 2000–3999 | 56 (18.6) | 30 (11.1) | 60 (20.0) | |
| 4000 and above | 11 (3.7) | 6 (2.2) | 17 (5.7) | |
| Medical cost (RMB per year) | 0–999 | 129 (42.9) | 141 (52.1) | 129 (43.0) |
| 1000–2999 | 144 (47.9) | 115 (42.4) | 121 (40.3) | |
| 3000 and above | 28 (9.3) | 15 (5.5) | 50 (16.7) | |
| Insurance | Self-payment | 105 (34.9) | 62 (22.9) | 71 (23.7) |
| Medical insurance | 196 (65.1) | 209 (77.1) | 229 (76.3) |